scoutldr

I know how to get to Eamonn...tax his tea!

I think common sense is called for. The question is about medals. On formal occasions, as mentioned above, I wear my Eagle, Pro Deo Et Patria (Lutheran religious award), Scouter's Training Award and Scouter's Key. When I was a Cub, there were no religious awards, however I would not wear it as an adult. I also would not wear my third-place Pinewood Derby medal. We have a young ASM who wears full medals to every meeting - Roundtables, OA Chapter meetings, etc. Looks kinda ridiculous. I have been asked to speak at an Eagle COH this afternoon (as a friend of the family), and was wrestling with what to wear...uniform or business suit. Medals/no medals. I called the Dad, who is the SM and an Eagle, and his answer was "full dress uniform, of course. Why do you ask?"

That's my point, Eamonn. Don't judge the book by it's gray (or white) cover. Just because an SM is "experienced", doesn't mean they know what they are doing. Do they have 30 years of experience, or one year of experience times 30? Yes, leaders should repeat training...the program has changed since 1965. That's one of the purpose of Roundtables, to present new information and keep everyone on the same sheet of music. Problem is attendance, which in my district is pretty sad.

"Personal Appearance, including proper height-weight ratio" I assume that also eliminates those who look anorexic, or is the discrimination just against fat people?

Not to throw any stones, but I find a little odd that someone hired as a "Health Officer" of a camp has to ask these questions. blueheronEVF, are you a licensed EMT or do you hold any other credentials that would qualify you for the position? Are you going to be the only medical support for the camp?

Eammon said, "I wasn't going to ask the SM who doesn't use the methods of Scouting to present a session on them. To my way of thinking this sends the wrong message to the participants.' This was a perfect opportunity to "train" the errant SM. Having to learn the methods and present them to others may have got him to thinking...the students probably are new and don't know him or his history. When I was a new Training Chair, the DE "helped" me by signing up some "experienced" old gray haired SMs who were wearing 30 year service stars. I never asked them again. Their ignorance of the program was appalling, although they are revered as pillars of the Council.

OGE: I hear you and understand completely. Seems like some who offend get banned and some don't. I'm still trying to figure out the criteria. Don't you at least get a square knot or something? Thanks for your cheerful service, and I hope you will continue adding your wit and wisdom to the forum.

The older I get, the more I hate phones. They are so...shall we say, rude. Answer me, right now, I don't care if it's convenient for you or not. Even more rude are those who refuse to leave a message on my machine, and keep calling back every 15 minutes. I now have caller-ID and screen my calls...turns out only a small percentage are from people with whom I actually wish to converse. I have come to prefer e-mail. I can send the same message to a dozen people at once, and if they are cooperative, I can have answers in 24 hrs. Much preferable to me spending every evening on the phone leaving messages on others' machines, then waiting for them to call me back at inopportune moments, if at all. If people check their e-mail regularly and respond promptly, it works like a charm. If not, they probably won't return my phone calls, either, so I've still saved a lot of time.

http://www.atlantabsa.org/docs/Friend_of_Scouting_website_edition_060105.pdf http://www.bsa-discrimination.org/html/0501-atlanta.html(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

Welcome back to the fold, Bob. You were obviously very active and should be able to contribute a lot to the forums!

Some suggestions: District Camporee or Council Camporall Long term summer camp

The purpose of the thread is obvious. To alert others that this type of thing is happening so we can watch for it in our own councils.

One theory of the recent explosion of childhood asthma is that kids are too protected and don't develop their immune system like before. I am 50 and am waiting for that fatal case of melanoma due to all the blistering sunburns I got every summer until my tan set in. In the summer, we would set out from home around 8 am and ride for miles every day. Home at 5pm sharp because Dad got home and that was suppertime, no excuses. By 5:20, it was back out until the streetlights started coming on.

As they say on airplanes..."Please put on your own oxygen mask before attempting to help others."

CNY: Looks like the DE got his come-uppance anyway if the unit disbanded. Now he needs to form 2 new ones to make up for it and get ahead. Of course, he could keep the unit active on paper...I've seen that done as well.

"Row" to hoe. Did you sign the QU form? If not, then the award is not authorized and you should refuse to wear the patch. If the DE wants to lie and forge your signature, then I would have a very one-way discussion with his boss (SE).

Note to acco...while the "Life membership" idea is not bad, the real reason for yearly re-registration of adults is to be able to do a new background check.

(This message has been edited by scoutldr)

I agree with the others that it HAS to be that check-in starts at 3 pm. Expecting all participants to be on site and checked in by 3 pm on a school/work day is a non-starter. The troop I serve travels to Gettysburg every other year over the MLK weekend. Scouts get out of school on Friday, since it's a 7-8 hr trip, but most teachers will excuse the absence since the trip has an educational component.

C'mon Merlyn, we don't use the *-word here. Have to agree with tj's post. I see too much pandering to special interests on the part of BSA, Inc. Also have to agree with the San Diego decision. BSA should not get special treatment from a governmental agency that is not offered to other groups on an equitable basis. I also look askance at any "survey" commissioned (i.e., paid for) by the group which the survey makes look good. Those who know how to do surveys know that you can produce any outcome you want simply by how you craft the questions.

So, Sitrep, how many years of experience did you have in the BSA prior to 1948? Right, Laura, my comment was not directed at you, sorry if you took it that way. My point was that adults should be selected for reasons other than to "honor" them. Adults are needed to be advisors to the youth who run the organization. Every youth officer and committee chairman has an adult advisor. Other than that, they serve little purpose.

The Junior tie was yellow, the Cadette tie was dark green. See: http://www.girlscouts.org/who_we_are/history/exhibit/ I also note that adult GSUSA uniforms are now made by Lands' End. Very simple...polo shirts with "Girl Scouts" logo and khaki chino pants. Very simple.

If the Jambo cap is not a "uniform item", then why are all those District and Council people wearing them already?

Adult membership in OA is often misunderstood. Adults who were not inducted as youth should be recommended, not based on their service record, or as a "reward" for service, but with an eye toward what they can offer to the Order. The adult role in OA is to serve as "adult supervision" for Lodge and Chapter events, and to serve as advisors to youth officers and committee chairs, in addition to providing strong-back labor and transportation for work days, ordeals, etc. In my opinion, an adult in OA who does not serve in one of these capacities, and merely walks around with a coffee cup or comes to meetings just to socialize in the back of the room is really just in the way.

If you use the Unit Budget Plan, expenses for JLT should be included as an annual expense.